2 Peter 1:1-2

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

By way of introducing the introduction that is verses 1 and 2, this letter is written to the Christian churches, or the wider Christian community. Where 1 Peter was written to encourage and strengthen the scattered groups of Christians who were facing seasons of suffering, 2 Peter was written to encourage Christians facing 2 dangers: (1) false teachers who were spreading false teachings and encouraging immorality (2:1); and scoffers who were using the fact that Christ had not returned as their excuse for immorality (3:3).

As in 1 Peter, Peter begins by introducing himself in the way followed by letter writers of the day. The way Peter does this is important. “servant and apostle to Jesus Christ”. Peter’s ‘office’ of apostleship carries the authority of one who represents and speaks for the living Christ. But it’s not like Peter is throwing his heavy weight class status about  in people’s faces. “Apostle” is second, no first. “Servant” comes before “apostle”.

There’s humility there. That same humble emphasis is carried on… “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours…”. What Peter is doing is addressing the believers he’s writing to on the same spiritual playing field that he and the other apostles are on. By showing equality with the believers he’s writing to, he’s encouraging them.

We shouldn’t rejoice or find joy in our positions of authority, or titles, or spiritual weight class… but in the faith that is ours through Jesus Christ.

“To those who have OBTAINED a faith of equal standing with ours…” I think the word “obtained” is really important here. This “faith of equal standing” wasn’t something we obtained by our own efforts, but by God’s choice. How pointless sand silly it would be for us to boast of our authority, or faith as if it was something we earned by our own efforts.

The Christian faith is “obtained”, not by us, but “by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. When I went camping with my friend Gordon to the Island of Rum (I can highly recommend bible reading on remote Scottish Islands… little room for distraction), he had a look at this passage … one of the things he pointed out was that the word “obtained” seemed to suggest “something precious”. – something that can only be “obtained by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. It is a gift given to us. It is a gift shared equally by Peter the apostle and the Christian believers he is writing to.

And the “Righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. It is in Jesus’ final suffering and death, and in his whole life of suffering and righteousness, he becomes our perfection… he gives us faith.

“Obtaining” faith in Jesus Christ is only possible because of his death being the climax of a perfect life of righteousness – God’s righteousness – imputed to us.

So what does that mean?

The righteousness we have is not our own, it comes as God’s gift in Christ. We are declared, or made righteous, and obtain faith, only through Christ’s righteousness.

(Verse 2). “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. We tend to gloss over this part, usually, when we read it? Don’t we? But it’s important. This is what Peter really wants to see happen because of his letter! It’s how the letter ends in Ch 3:18… “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”

Grace and peace… something that comes to us from God. Again, not something we earn by our own effort.

He stresses, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you… HOW?… in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”.

This knowing God is the means by which grace and peace manifest themselves in our lives. If you want to enjoy and live in the grace and peace of God… your knowledge of him has to grow.

We study the scriptures because through it comes the knowledge of God, and through that grace and peace are multiplied in your heart… and wherever you are…in your work place…and in your churches… and in Scotland…

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